Application
Examples— the following
links show how grid-based map analysis can be used in various applications…

Note:All of the following applications can be
executed in MapCalc Learner
(see above) for hands-on experience in developing and implementing map analysis
models.The MapCalc Learner databases
are identified with each application and the text describes the processing.The model logic and processing flow, however,
are supported by most grid-based analysis software ...command names, options
available and syntax might vary.The
MapCalc Learner educational system can be downloaded for free from www.innovativegis.com.

Identifying Campground
Suitability:A recreation specialist needs to generate a
map that identifies the relative suitability for locating a campground.In an initial planning session it was determined
that the best locations for the campground is on gently sloping terrain, near
existing roads, near flowing water, with good views of surface water and
oriented toward the west.(uses standard MapCalc
Tutor25.rgs database and standard Campground.scr script)

Determining Proximity:A wildfire response team needs to determine
the relative proximity of all off-road areas to existing roads for estimating
response time should a fire occur.(uses standard MapCalc
Tutor25.rgs database)

Travel-Time and Customer
Access:A market analyst needs to construct an
“underlay” for a client’s MapInfo database that shows the travel-time from
Kent’s Emporium to all other locations within a defined service area.This information will be invaluable in
visualizing relative access of potential customers throughout the city.(PowerPoint
animation of travel-time surface construction; uses standard MapCalc Smallville.rgs database)

Store Competition
Analysis:A local storeowner needs to identify the spatial
impact of a new store that is under construction on the other side of
town.(uses standard MapCalc
Smallville.rgs database)

Transferring Data to
MapInfo Tables:A market analyst needs
to transfer information on travel-time from a client’s store that was derived
in MapCalc to a MapInfo table identifying the residences of customers.This information will be invaluable in
geo-query and statistical summary of customer characteristics within specified
zones of proximity.(uses standard MapCalc
Smallville.rgs database)

Determining Visual
Exposure:A land planner needs to determine areas are that
are highly visible from the road network for consideration in a new development
plan for the county.(uses standard MapCalc
Tutor25.rgs database)

Modeling Visual Exposure
from Roads and Houses:A natural resource
manager needs a map that identifies the relative visual exposure of forested
lands in the county.This information is
important in deciding where visually sensitive activities should and shouldn’t
be located.(uses standard MapCalc Tutor25.rgs database)

Mapping Wildfire Risk:A fire risk map for the project area is
needed for countywide emergency planning.To meet this need an initial Wildfire Risk Model was developed that
considers 1) Fuel Loading based on terrain and cover type conditions, 2) Fire
Detection based on visibility to housing and roads and 3) Fire Response-time
based on relative and absolute barriers to emergency vehicle movement.(uses standard MapCalc Tutor25.rgs database)

Mapping Surface Flows and
Pooling:A farmer needs to identify areas in his field
that are likely to accumulate materials, such as fine soil particles, organic
matter and applied chemicals through surface water flows.The movement of materials to areas of
“pooling” can affect crop production.(uses MapCalc AgData.rgs database)

Visualizing Mapped Data:A crop consultant needs to generate maps of
crop yield that are more effective in conveying yield patterns throughout a
field.Most mapping programs simply
display 2-D contour maps that are automatically themed into a few discrete
color zones.The method used in
contouring the continuous yield data collected in the field greatly biases the
perceived patterns.(uses standard MapCalc
AgData.rgs database)

Generating Surface maps
from Point Data:A farmer wants to
generate a set of maps from soil samples for a field.Creating surface maps enables him to
visualize the spatial distribution of data as contour and 3D displays, as well
as analyze the spatial patterns within the data (e.g., determine where in the
field there are unusually high or low nutrient levels) and relationships among
the maps (e.g., determine where the greatest increase or decrease in a soil
nutrient has occurred over the past several years). (uses standard MapCalc AgData.rgs database)

Summarizing Map Regions:A watershed manager needs to identify the
average slope and other terrain statistics for a set of watersheds.This information will be used in concert with
other information to estimate surface runoff and erosion potential for the
watersheds.(uses standard MapCalc Island.rgs database)

Comparing Map Surfaces
(Difference):A farmer wants to compare this year’s corn
yield with last year’s and identify areas in the field with large differences.(uses standard MapCalc AgData.rgs database)

Assessing Localized
Variation:An agricultural scientist wants to locate
areas in a field that exhibit highly variable yield patterns.In data analysis and the development of yield
models, these areas should be treated differently from areas that have
consistent yield levels.(uses standard MapCalc
AgData.rgs database)

Identifying Areas of
Similar Data Patterns (Clustering):A
farmer wants to identify areas in a field that have similar soil nutrient
patterns (management zones).Instead of
managing the field as one complex unit the intent is to tailor actions, such as
fertilization prescriptions, to the conditions in each data cluster.(uses standard MapCalc AgData.rgs database)

Characterizing
Narrowness:A wildlife biologist needs a map that
identifies the relatively narrow portions of each vegetation parcel in a
project area.This information will be
analyzed with radio-collar data to determine patterns of animal movement with
respect to land cover narrowness.(uses standard MapCalc
Tutor25.rgs database)

Delineating and
Summarizing Core Area:A wildlife biologist
needs a map that identifies core area for meadow parcels in a research area and
the distance to water for each location in the core area.This information will be analyzed with
nesting information about various ground-nesting birds.(uses standard MapCalc Tutor25.rgs database)